Rotary beading machine for forming circumferential beads in can bodies



March 15, 196 0 2,928,454 CUMFERENTIAL E. LAXO ROTARY BEADING MACHINEFOR FORMING CIR BEADS IN CAN BODIES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 8. 1956INVENTOR. ED L A X 0 ATTORNEY March 15, 1960 ,928,454

E. LAXO 2 ROTARY BEADING MACHINE FOR FORMING CIRCUMFERENTIAL BEADS INCAN BODIES Filed March 8, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I i I I ED LAXOINVENTOR. 1 g L 1: W4- 7;: 1 ATTORNEY March 15, 1960 E. LAXO 2,928,454

ROTARY BEADING MACHINE FOR FORMING CIRCUMFERENTIAL BEADS IN CAN BODIESFiled March 8, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ED LAXO BY f? ATTOR/Vf)United States Patent ROTARY READING MACHINE FOR FORMING CIRCUMFERENTIALBEADS IN CAN BODIES This invention relates to a beading machine forheading and/ or flanging can bodies. The machine is also adapted for useinforming end flanges on can bodies, but will be referred to herein as aheader.

Can bodies are frequently beaded, i.e., they are formed with one or moreperipheral grooves to strengthen the metal. By this means it is possibleto use a thinner gauge metal in forming can bodies. Beading isespecially important as a means of reinforcing large cans.

A can beader should be capable of operating at high speeds and it shouldform the beads accurately and dependably. It should adjust itselfautomatically for extra metal thickness as at can body side seams, so asto form the beads accurately and properly without exerting excessivepressure and causing rupture of the metal.

In my prior Patent No. 2,686,551, entitled Beading and Flanging Machine,granted April 17, 1954, a header is described which, among other things,is capable ofautomatic adjustment of the beading rolls in response tometal thickness to maintain adequate beading pressure and to avoidexcessive pressure. I

It is an object of the present invention to provide a 2,928,454 PatentedMar. 15, 1960 In accordance with the present invention a header isprovided which is preferably, although not necessarily of the rotary,turret type; which has a stationary beading member; and which also hasat least one, preferably a plurality of movable beading members whichmove along the stationary member with a rolling motion, apply pressureto can bodies clamped between the two beading members, and cooperatewith the stationary member to form beads and/or end flanges on thebodies. The movable beading members are preferably arranged in pairswhich are axially aligned and movable into and out of can bodies, andthey are resiliently urged toward the stationary beading member. Toefiect a precise control thereof, each movable beading member has alever which opposes the resilient means, and which is cam operated todetermine the position of the respective movable beading member, yetpermits oscillatory movement of such beading member, i.e., permitsyielding in response to metal thickness.

Referring now to Figure 1, a can header is there shown which isgenerally designated by the reference numeral 10 and which includes aframe 11 within which is journaled a main shaft 12, as is best shown inFigure 2. Can bodies 13 (see Figure 1) are supplied by an indexingand'feed screw 14 which is driven, in timed relation to the shaft 12, bymeans including sprockets 15and 16, a chain 17 and helical gears 18 and18a. The can body feed assembly also includes can guide rails, one ofwhich is shown at 19, such rail being adjustable for cans of differentheight, and an adjustable side rail 20 which can be moved closer to orfurther from the feed screw according beading machine having a morepositive and dependable operation and control of the heading rolls withregard to heading pressure. g

It is another object of the invention to provide a machine of thecharacter and for the purpose described which is capable of operating athigh speed, which forms beads and/or flanges dependably, which exertsthe proper amount of'pressure, at points of extra metal thicknesssuch ascan body side seams, and which has a more positive and dependable meansof accomplishing such pressure control than prior machines.

These and other objects of the invention will be ap- I parent from theensuing description and the appended claims.

One form of the invention is illustratedby way of example in thefollowing drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section taken along the line 1-1 ofFigure 2.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal midsection through the machine takenalong the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken through one of the heading headsshowing a pair of heading rolls inside a can body and in the act offorming beads on a can body.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4of Figure 2, showing the means employed to bring the heading rolls intocontact with can bodies.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 55 ofFigure 2, showing certain other features of the beading roll operatingmechanism.

Figure 6 is a view in elevation of one of the two cams employed to shiftthe beading rolls into and out of can bodies.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of one of the two beading cams employedto swing the beadingrolls into and out of engagement with can bodies.

to the diameter of can bodies. By removing set screws such as shown at25 the feed screw can be removed and a feed screw of different pitch canbe substituted for can bodies of different diameter. Can bodies areguided by plates 27 and 28 to the entrance station A, as best shown inFigure 2, and are held between rollers 28a best shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 2 the header 10 has identical left and right handhalves 10a and 10b, respectively, the

shaft 12 and certain other parts being common to both .shaft 12 beingrotatable. in the drum 30, the latter being halves. The shaft 12 isdriven by a gear 29 which is shown at the right of Figure 2 and it isjournaled in end members 11a shown at the left of Figure 2 and 11b shownatthe right ofv Figure 2.

Mounted on the center of the shaft 12 is a drum 30, the

a fixed element of the machine. Clamped to the periphery of the drum 30by gibs 31 is a cylindrical beading ring 32 having projecting ribs orbeads 33. The drum 30 and beading ring 32 are shown in Figure 2 and, ona larger scale, in Figure 3. The beading ring 32 does not extend all theway around the drum 30. The ribs 33 are the elements which, incooperation with the beading rolls, form beads in the can body. It willbe apparent that. the heading ring 32 can be easily removed and replacedby another beading ring having a diiferent number, size and/or shape ofbeads. To facilitate removal and replacement, the heading ring is madein sections.

The drum 30 also supports left and right-hand beading cams 34a and 34b,respectively, each of which is made in sections for easy removal andreplacement and each of which is clamped to the drum 30 by means ofcapscrews 35, a ring 40 keyed to the drum, a ring 41 and the cap screws42. The ring 40 has a relatively loose tightened tongues 43 adjustedposition.

Referring' now to Figure 7;.which is adiagrammatic view of the beadingcam 34b it will be seen that the senses; a

contour of this cam is as follows: (The contour of the. 7

other beading cam 34a is identical.) There is a low dwell 44 which spansthe entrance point A-wh'ere can bodies enter the beader; there isrelatively shortand sharp rise at 45, followed by a longer and moregradual riseat. 46; then there is a high dwell at- 48; andat 49 there isa decline from the high dwell 48 to'the low dwell 44. It is the purposeof the beading cams 34a and 34b, acting through a mechanism describedhereinafter, to con are supported and operated for shifting and pivotalmovements'willnow be described. 4 Y

A carrier or spider 75. is provided for each. half of the machine whichis keyed to and rotates with the main shaft 12. A pivot shaft 76 isprovided for each beading roll 61a and 61b, and said shaft, as bestshown in Figure trol the heading rolls positively and with precision.Such beads areshownin the process of formation in Figures The relativelengths of the dwell and rise- 2 and 3. portions of the beading earns34:: and 34b may vary, but are preferably about as shown in Figure 7;The rise portion 46 should be long enough toapply a gradually"increasingzpressure and the high dwell 48 should be long enough to formthe beads.

Referring. now. to Figure 2, shifting cams 55a and SSbar'eEmounted onopposite ends of the shaft 12, at the left-handand.right-hand endsthereof, respectively. Each lifter cam is fixed to the frame of themachineso asnot to, rotate and theshaft 12 is journaled. in thezcams55a,-

and .55b.so as to be free to rotate therein. Onegofthese cams. (c'am55b)is shown inFigure 6. A cam'track 1 or groove-56isformed in each ofthecams a and 55b, V

the contour of which is. best shown in Figure 6.. It

will. be seen that each cam track 56 has a first dwell57;-aconnectingportion 58, atsecond dwell 59 and another connectingportion.60. It.is the purpose of the camsSSa and55b. to shift left. andright-hand beading rolls 61a; and 6112,; respectively,throughzrneanswhich will .now, be described. There: are; six pairsof,beading rolls; 61a and 61b; aswill be seen from an inspection of Figure.1,. although a greater or lessernumber. maybe.

employed, andthe' members. of. each pair are inaxial alignmentandareparallel to the shaft 12 and beading.

ring 32 and are arranged uniformly about the shaft 12.

As best shown in Figure 3, the left-hand beading roll. 61a hascircumferential grooves 62 formed therein, and it is clamped by means ofa cap 63 and arprojecting cap screw. 6410a spindle '65. The right-handbeading roll 61b' is. also .formed with circumferential gro0ves 62, and

it.:h'as"a.head portion orlextension 63. The extension 631 isclampedtothe respective spindle 65 by a recessed ca'p. screw. 66..Itisintendedthat, when a pair of heading rolls. 61aiand .6'1b arelocated at the .in position illustrated in Figure 3, the projecting headof the cap screwr 64 oftheqbeading roll 61a will be seated in the socket67 2, is clamped at 77 to the respective carrier 75. Each pivot shaft 76therefore rotates with the main shaft 12, but it does notrotate-relatively thereto, nor to its carrier 75, nordoes itshiftaxia'lly'. Each spindle sleeve. 68' is rotatably and slidably'.supported onitspivot shaft 76 as follows: Referring to Figuresl4 and 5,arms 78 and 79, which are integral with thegsleeve 68,- terminate insleeves 80 and 81 respectively, The sleeve 80 is split, and its partsare clamped together and t0- ahcdllar or bushing 82 (see Figure 2),which is rotatable, and slidable on the spindle, 65 which rolls initsrespective cam groove 56 (see-Figure;2)- and which ismounted on one:end of an angular forked, member 85. At its r'nid'portion theforltedmember 85 is-clarnped to a' shaft'90 which slides iriasleeve91 formed'in the carrier 75. The other end? of the" forked rnemb'er' 85 isbifurcated" at- 92 andjas' shown in Figures 2' and 5'; it fitswithin thecircum iere'nt'ialislot" 83' milled out ofthe sleeve 81. 1 Asibestshownin Figure 5, there is a small clearancespace 93. between thefork'ifl92 and the sleevesl, lt willl'be apparentf that, a's' eachean'rfollower roller 84 moves in its cam groove 56,,its shifting motion willbe transmitted to the respective spindle sleeve 68 and beading roll, 61aor 6112. Meanwhile, the respective shaft 90. will slide in its sleeve 91and willimaintain the roller 84 in its cam groove 56'. V 7

Referring to Fig; 4, the aforesaid pivotingmovement 'ofeach beading roll61a-or 611b, -i.e., its pivotal, oscillaw toryrnovement about the axisofitspivotfshaft 76, is acconfiplishecl as follows; A lever 94fis providedwhich is rotatablymounted'on the pivot shaft 76. The lever 94-has-marines on one end of which is a hub 97 whichrotatably arries1 a camfollower roller 98 intended to formed in,.the .beading roll 6115., Asshownin. Figure 2,:=-;

theioircumferentialgrooves 62. register with thebeading ribs 33 on thebeading ring 32. v

.Eachxbeading spindle 65 is journaled in a sleeve 68' (see Figure 2),.which has a purpose described hereinafter. At their 'outer ends thespindles 65 are fixed to .gearsior pinions 69 which mesh with and aredriven by large stationary gears 70. It will be apparent that, as thebeading spindles 65 revolve about the axiso.the main. shaft 1 2, thespindles will spin about their individual axes by reason .of the meshingrelationship betv'veenth'e pinions 69 and the gears70. It-Will also bespind-le a cap screw 197a secures, eachcarn follower roller 98- to itsliub 97 gindthe mounting'of the roller 98- iseccentrier Therefore, by.IOOSCIlihgIhB cap screw, rotating the eccentric mountingand-then.tighteningthe cap,screW,--

the-normalipo sition of the lever 94 is adjusted; The other arm 99] of]the lever 94 has an end portion 100" whichabuts'a lug integral with andprojectin'gfrom the respective spindle. sleeve 68: A. screw 106 extendsslidably' through the end portion 100 andthe lug 10 5. andth'e latterjis formed with a socket} 107 whichreceives a 'ooiled spring' lfl8whichjis compressed by nuts 10 9, one

apparent that the pinions 69 are sufficiently long to allow 7 horizontalshifting of the spindles 65, while maintaining the meshing relationshipbetween the pinions 69- and the gears,70.- v

l-lach of the heading rolls 61a and 61b is supported. for severaltypesof movement; i.e., forshifting move-. a

merit. to enter and retract from can bodies. located. b etween theplates 27 and 28 (see Figure'Z); for spinning i motion about itsindividual axis; and forpivotal, oscillatory movement to and from thebeadingring 32. The spinning" motion arises from the fact that eachspindle is journaled in its sleeve 68 and is drivenby its pinion 69 andgear' 70. "The means wherebythebead ing rolls Asthernai shaft 12,otatespeach cam follower roller of which servesas a locknut.

S il -rolls, on its cam fifla or 34b; and1 it oscillatesin ee- 7cordanee with;thecontour of such cam. Bythis means, the respectivebeading roll 61a and 61b is held clear; of thet'beadingringr32i at theentry: portion; of thezm'achine. (point. in .Figure; il), The-rise461*rnoves thebeading.

roll toward the beadingiring and the high dwell 48 holds the beadingroll inaoperativerel-ation to the beading ring while the can body spinsBeads are thereby formed."

The beading pressure is relieved when the rollers 98- roll onto the lowdwell 44. The ,camsJSS'a and 55b retract the beadingiollsfilq and [61.to release. the beaded;

can, while is then guided out of the machine by a blade 111 (see Figure1).

When an extra metal thickness is encountered, as at a side seam, theextra metal will act against the beading roll and the expansive force ofthe spring 108. By reason of the clearance space 93 above mentioned (seeFigure 5), the beading roll 61a or 61b and its spindle are permitted topivot outwardly to relieve the excess pressure. Nevertheless, the spring108 maintains adequate beading pressure, it restores the beading roll toits normal position instantly when the region of extra metal thicknesshas been passed; and the separation of the beading roll from its normalposition occurs only at the precise point and to the precise degreeneeded.

It will be apparent that when a pair of heading rolls 61a and 61b are intheir retracted position, i.e., while their rollers 84 (see Figure 2)are in the dwells 59 (see Figure 6), the corresponding cam followerrollers 98 are off the beading cams 34a and 34b. However, their freedomto swing is restricted by the following construction, which preventsclashing of the rollers 98 and cams 34a and 3412 when the beading rollsmove in again. Referring to Figure 5, lugs 115 and 116 are formed oneach forked member 85 and its spindle sleeve 68, respectively. A rod 117is pivotally connected at one end to the lug 115 and at its threadedother end it extends slidably through lug 116. Nuts 118 are threaded tothe rod 117 and serve to compress a coil spring 119 between the twolugs. It will be apparent that, by appropriate adjustment of the nuts118, the roller 98 is prevented from clashing with its cam 34a or 34bwhen the respective beading roll moves in.

Referring now to Figure 1, the drum 30 which carries both of the headingcams 34a and 34b and the beading ring 32 is held stationary and isadjustable by the means now to be described: A block 125 is clamped to acasting 126, which forms a stationary part of the machine by a screw127. A set screw 128 is threaded through the block 125 and bears againstthe casting 126. The block 125 is pivoted on the casting 126 and it hasa rounded knob 129 seated in a notch 130 formed in a lug 131 projectingfrom the drum 30. By loosening the screw 127 and turning the set screw128 one way or the other, the block 125 is rocked and moves the drum 30one way or the other. When suitably adjusted the drum is clamped inposition by tightening the screw 127.

It will, therefore, be apparent that a beading machine is provided whichis capable of accomplishing the beading of can bodies at high speed,dependably and effectively. The machine, among other things, isrelatively simple from the standpoint of assembly, disassembly,inspection, repair and timing. It is provided with a yieldable featurewhereby proper and adequate beading pressure is exerted at all timesduring the heading part of the cycle of operation regardless of metalthickness interposed between the stationary and moving beading elements.The position of the moving beading element, hence the heading pressure,is under positive control at all times during the beading operation, yetit does not interfere with automatic yielding of the moving element inresponse to varying metal thickness.

=Iclaim:

1. A rotary can header comprising a stationary, arcuate beading ringconcentric to a main axis, a carrier rotatable about said main axis, apair of beading rolls cooperable with said ring to bead a can body asthe latter is clamped between the ring and the rolls and the rolls movealong the ring with a rolling movement; said machine also comprising apivot shaft for each beading roll carried by said carrier outwardly ofsaid beading ring,

said shafts being axially aligned and parallel to said main machine;said interconnecting means comprising first and second opposing membersfixed to the lever means and to the rolls, respectively, and resilientmeans urging said opposing members into contact with one another-butpermitting separation thereof when the rolls contact a can body sideseam, said resilient means acting during such separation to exert aheading pressure on the beading rolls.

2. A rotary beader comprising a frame and a main shaft journaledtherein, a stationary drum mounted on and concentric to said shaftbetwen its ends, a beadingring clamped to said drum, a pair of circularbeading cams also clamped to said drum at opposite ends of said ring, apair of heading rolls cooperable with said ring to clamp can bodies tothe ring and to bead the can bodies as said rolls revolve about saidmain axis with a spinning motion, means supporting said rolls outwardlyof said ring for such revolving and spinning motions and also forradial, pivoting movement inwardly to and outwardly from the ring andmeans operatively connecting each cam with one of said supporting meansto oscillate the rolls to clamp a can body to the ring, head the canbody and release it during each cycle of operation of the machine.

3. A rotary beader comprising a frame and a main shaft journaledtherein, a stationary drum mounted on and concentric to said shaftbetween its ends, a heading ring clamped to said drum, a pair ofcircular beading cams also clamped to said drum at opposite ends of saidring, a pair of beading rolls cooperable with said ring to clamp canbodies to the ring and to'bead the can bodies as said rolls revolveabout said'main axis with a spinning motion, means supporting said rollsoutwardly of said ring for such revolving and spinning motions and alsofor radial pivoting movement inwardly to and out:

wardly from the ringand coaxial lever means operatively connecting eachcam with one of said supporting means to oscillate the rolls to clamp acan body to the ring, bead the can body and release it during each cycleof operation of the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,609,986 Brenzinger Dec. 7, 1926 2,081,042 Krueger May 18, 19372,407,776 Gladfelter et a1. Sept. 17, 1946 2,686,551 Laxo Aug. 17, 19542,741,292 Butters Apr. 10, 1956

